Thrill is the first emotion that gets reflected from the word “Adventure” and adrenaline rush is the main reason for us to undertake these risky activities. For the ones who have once relished the taste of adventure, it is difficult to not crave for it again. My first ever innocent experience with outdoor adventure was a high-altitude trek in the Himalayas at the age of 16 and it left me wanting to come back once again. 13 years later, I returned as an adult for another trek, just to recollect the feelings I had associated with adventure. This time I was capable of absorbing more than just the thrill and I came back with a greed to experience the untouched beauty of nature over and over again! My curiosity and greed for the beauty of our planet kept growing on my mind and I started scuba diving to venture into the oceans as well. I was traveling around the world and Adventure Travel became an integral part of my life leading to the inception of RavenousLegs. Even before I realised, my curiosity and greed had became an addiction, for all the right reasons!
Adventure Travel turned out to be my way to a healthy lifestyle and overall wellbeing.
Adventure Travel turned out to be my way to a healthy lifestyle and overall wellbeing.
Adventure Travel as way to healthy lifestyle and wellbeing
1. Adventure Travel for Physical Wellbeing
A healthy body is the first step towards our wellbeing, and the way our generation has started taking this as a priority is quite impressive. A lot of importance has also been given to Women’s health, which requires special attention. I’ve always considered health as my first priority in life and by adding Adventure Travel to my lifestyle, I didn’t have to make any extra effort to keep my body healthy.
Adventure Travel for physical wellbeing
Physical fitness for outdoor adventures
The challenging expeditions in the mountains I kept progressing towards, needed dedicated physical training for at least a couple of months before the trek. Building stamina, strength and endurance became a regular affair, as I needed to keep getting better for the tougher challenges. During every expedition, the amount of physical exertion that my body goes through keeps me fairly fit for the rest of the time I spend in the cities with moderate workout routines. Scuba diving is also a demanding activity, the body requires a lot of energy to navigate through the water below the surface. A weeklong scuba diving trip keeps my fitness level in check!
Yoga in the Himalayas
Healthy diet & eating habits
As a part of my fitness preparation before the adventure, I keep a complete control on my diet. Even on the adventures, the local food offered at the remote destinations is generally fresh and healthy. Coming back home with a fitter body only motivates me to continue eating healthy. I introduced low-carb diet and intermittent fasting to my daily routines. Healthy diet is all about regular eating habits and has nothing to do with one time efforts of starving.
Low carb healthy diet
2. Adventure Travel for Mental Wellbeing
A physically fit body seeks a healthy mind. Physical wellbeing is completely interconnected with mental wellbeing. Adventure Travel came into my life with the benefits I had never thought through before taking that plunge.
Boosting confidence, overcoming fears
Getting out of the comfort zone is the first step towards overcoming fears. I've invariably put my body and mind under all kinds of risks and come out as a stronger person.
- Shivering on a 83 meters high bridge for a bungee jump in Rishikesh.
- Gasping for breath at the height of 6461 meters on the summit of Mera Peak in the Himalayas.
- Paddling my way through the crashing waves and being flipped off the raft in the ice cold water of Himalayan rivers.
- Rappelling through the gushing waterfalls in Sahyadri mountains in the monsoons.
- Diving with the under currents at the depth of 40 meters in the mysterious oceans in Maldives.
- Falling into a frozen river in -10 degrees and being rescued on Chadar Trek in Ladakh.
Bungee jumping in Rishikesh - Boosting confidence, overcoming fears
Building resilience and flexibility
Learning to be flexible was tough in the cities where we are constantly pushed towards perfection. It is really tough to break the shackles of social conditioning that we have grown up with. Intellectual plans followed by correct output kept driving me aggressively towards success. But when I exposed myself to the grandeur of nature, and came face to face with its power, I learnt flexibility, I learnt to let go.
On my trek to Kashmir Great Lakes, the weather turned bad and we were forced to return after trekking for 2 days. A week long trek was cut short to 4 days and we had to make alternate arrangements for the rest of the days. I happily returned next year to complete the trek as it is one of the most beautiful treks in India. I've had many such failed expeditions due to unpredictable weather, but the best part about is that, however frustrating it sounded, I didn't consider these experiences as failures, as it was actually a win for me. I had learnt to cope up with setbacks and developed a resilient mindset.
On my trek to Kashmir Great Lakes, the weather turned bad and we were forced to return after trekking for 2 days. A week long trek was cut short to 4 days and we had to make alternate arrangements for the rest of the days. I happily returned next year to complete the trek as it is one of the most beautiful treks in India. I've had many such failed expeditions due to unpredictable weather, but the best part about is that, however frustrating it sounded, I didn't consider these experiences as failures, as it was actually a win for me. I had learnt to cope up with setbacks and developed a resilient mindset.
Kashmir Great Lakes trek
Digital detox
Being trapped in a world where all my jobs required me to be in front of the screen all the time, I had started hating the virtual world. I loved my adventure trips in remote places where I could get away being completely disconnected from my gadgets (except for my camera, of course). Adventure Travel helped me keep connected with the real world.
Digital detox in the Himalayas
Social connect
When most of the social connects were shifting towards social media chats and updates, I am glad I could make real connects with people through adventures. When you are cutoff from the rest of the world digitally as well as physically, when you are surviving with bare essentials, you end up making more meaningful connects with the people around you. Expeditions are considered to be successful only when every member of the team returns safe. Even those temporary connects become so meaningful.
Social connect during trekking expeditions
Continued learning & personal growth
With all the adventures I progressed with (Trekking, Scuba Diving & Paragliding) I ended up relearning the concepts of physics, this time practically. There's a lot of technical training that goes behind the the scenes before jumping in the oceans or flying off the hills. I ended up learning more about human body, different regions, cultures, weather behaviour, diversity, people, environment, conservation, photography, blogging, digital marketing and the list is endless.. There's nothing more fascinating to a human mind than learning newer things in the world.
Take off for paragliding
3. Adventure Travel for Spiritual Wellbeing
While I was trying to strike a balance between my body and mind with an intention to remain healthy for my entire lifetime, I got pulled into a soul-searching journey without my realisation. I had started observing more and questioning everything around me. I realised I was evolving and it felt addictive.
Self awareness & acceptance
When I was disconnected from all the distractions of the world, and kept walking up the mountains for days together, at an altitude where every step felt difficult, and all other team members around me were struggling with their own steps, I was left completely alone with myself! That's where I got to meet myself. I started identifying my limitations and insecurities in life which was stopping my progress back in the routine world, even when I made constant efforts for self-improvement. I would still feel wonderful about myself when I made it to the top of some of the most challenging mountains in the world. My journey of self exploration and self acceptance had already started!
Mera Peak Summit in Nepal - 6461m height
Living in the present
On the mountains, when every step and every breath felt difficult, there was nothing else that could have bothered me at the moment, than making it to the destined stop for the day. When I left my life to the fate of nature, there was always a possibility of not even making it to the next day in those extreme conditions. I learnt to live in the present. And it did not stop just there, I carried this learning back to the cities and lived with the same attitude, though it felt bizarre to others around me.
Technical climb during trekking expedition
Broadening my perspectives
Social conditioning has taught us to live our life in a particular way, but when I exposed myself to extremities and diversities, I discovered that life existed beautifully even when those conditions were completely defied. Life in all forms thrived in places close to nature and I learnt to find my little joys in simpler things in life. It helped me broaden my perspectives about life, it felt magical. I was probably seeking these perspectives, because deep down I always believed that there has to be some other ways than the ones I grew up with.
Connecting with nature on treks
Sense of gratitude for life
I was getting lost each time I tried to find my purpose in life. But when I found myself to be amongst the very few people on the planet who have deeply experienced the pristine beauty of nature, I felt content. The way I could absorb the beauty in my eyes, my mind and my heart gave me a sense of gratitude for life. If I was born just to appreciate the real beauties of the creation, I have no complains!
Gratitude for life
Secret Affair with Nature
When I felt content with the spectacular vistas on the planet, I started observing every little life that existed within. The pretty birds, the vibrant flowers, the eye-catching wildlife, the age old trees, the kind humans - I started feeling a connect with all of these. I found the most innocent creatures of the planet, deep down the oceans. I have spent absolutely silent hours watching the attractive and delightful fishes underwater and they have left a lasting impression on me. When I swam with them in the endless oceans, I felt myself to be one amongst them. When I started feeling one with nature, I connected with my higher self.
Scuba diving in Maldives - secret affair with nature
Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind and spirit. When one is free from physical disabilities and mental distractions, the gates of the soul open.
When I went about taking frequent adventures making it my lifestyle, a healthy body and healthy mind came to me effortlessly which made way for my spiritual progress, the ultimate goal of human life.
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